Published 2:59 pm, Friday, April 22, 2016

“It may in the end show it’s meningitis, but at this point in time, there’s been no confirmation of bacterial meningitis from the lab testing,” Gretchen Tenbusch, health officer for Huron and Tuscola counties, told the Tribune.

Tenbusch explained that to confirm a case of bacterial meningitis, laboratory work is done through culture and sensitivity tests. The tests check for the growth of the bacteria that’s associated with bacterial meningitis.

“We will continue to monitor the lab results for any definitive diagnosis, but at this point, it is not confirmed that it is bacterial meningitis,” she said.

Lakers Superintendent Robert Smith said the child was taken to a hospital in Saginaw Thursday evening.

Smith told the Tribune on Friday morning that Lakers schools were closed Friday after the family of the kindergartner notified school officials that spinal and blood tests confirmed the child has bacterial meningitis.

Tenbusch said the Huron County Health Department has not contacted the family during its investigation Friday. However, health officials did speak with two hospitals the child recently has been taken to.

“We talked with the hospitals — there is no growth,” she said. “(So) at this point, it is not confirmed.”

That’s not to say further monitoring may show evidence of bacterial meningitis, Tenbusch said.

“It’s not so say something might occur down the road … you watch cultures over a period of time,” she said. “But at this point in time, there’s no growth.”

Tenbusch said the child remains hospitalized, and health officials continue to monitor lab results for any definitive diagnosis.

“But we would still tell the community that if your child develops symptoms (a sudden onset of fever, headache, stiff neck and other symptoms), you should take them to your physician for assessment,” she said.